Lake Tjålme – Valley of Lais (875)
Sweden, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Tjålmejaure – Laisdalen
Central coordinates: Latitude: 66.2407, Longitude: 16.2762
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 460 to 1029
Area of KBA (km2): 290.92558
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Two converging valleys in the mountains of northern Sweden, containing small rivers and their deltas. The southern valley holds a large lake system with flat shores, which form an important nesting habitat for waterbirds. The narrower northern valley contains the River Laisälven, which is bordered by a strip of marshland and surrounded by Betula forest, with some Pinus.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: Important for breeding waterbirds, raptors and waders, and one of the final staging areas for northward-moving spring migrants. Breeding birds include nine out of the 32 species in Europe that are restricted (when breeding) to the Arctic/tundra biome. Breeding species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Gallinago media.
Delineation rationale: Old area: 22200 ha Area has been somewhat enlarged to include more Great Snipe habitat, and this estimation is more accurate than the previous one. /Robert Ekblom (2007-10-17)
Habitats
Land use: tourism/recreation (60%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 50 | |
| Forest | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: No serious threats are known at the site.